The Untold Truth Of Louis Vuitton

More than a century before the company was featured in global headlines, its founder started out life in modest circumstances. Despite his eponymous firm going on to epitomize ultraluxury, his family had humble origins.

As Biography tells the story, Louis Vuitton was born on August 4, 1821. His father was a farmer, and his mother was a milliner, or hatmaker. Sadly the family matriarch died early in his life. Vuitton's stepmother was reportedly so evil that he ran away from his home in the Jura mountains when he was 13 and headed for Paris –- on foot. It was a journey of 292 miles.

To survive, he performed odd jobs along the way, finding whatever shelter he could. By the time he turned 16, he had made it to the glittering capital city of France. After going to work as an apprentice for boxmaker Monsieur Marechal, Vuitton quickly learned the skills that would enable him to create his iconic trunks and handbags.

In those times, boxmakers were in high demand; their products were essential in the days of long journeys by steamer and horse-drawn coach. Skilled boxmakers and packers were entrusted with protecting the extremely expensive handmade gowns and other clothing worn by the upper classes, expertly making boxes to fit the items and adeptly packing them to ensure their care. Vuitton had already found his niche, catering to high society at a time when the Industrial Revolution was making people fortunes -– while there was still of course an enormous amount of poverty in Paris.